Fiji's Minister of Education says proposed rule changes to popular Suva schools are due to some parents of rural students missing out on enrolling their children.
Dr Mahendra Reddy says urban 'elite' students are taking rural places in the Government-run schools Adi Cakobau, Ratu Kadavulevu and Queen Victoria, and now rural students will have priority.
But the opposition leader, who is a former education minister, Ro Teimumu Kepa, says Dr Reddy has made a quick policy decision without consultation.
Photo: RNZ / Republika
She says the schools are successful and competitive and the current arrangement works well.
"Some of these parents, they come in late, some of them have very good intentions, of seeking good schools as much as any parent has a right to do. He just needs to have proper consultation with the parents, with the stakeholders."
The President of the Queen Victoria School old boys association, Anasa Vocea, says the current breakdown is 60 percent rural students and 40 per cent urban.
